Song of Solomon 7:9

and the roof of thy mouth Better, as R.V., and thy mouth. Chçkhis the palate, but it is used for the mouth. Cp. ch. Song of Solomon 5:16; Hosea 8:1. The reference here as in Song of Solomon 5:16 is to the sweet words of love which she whispers, they intoxicate like wine.

for my beloved, that goethdown sweetly This should be, as in R.V., that goeth down smoothly for my beloved. Instead of smoothly, R.V. marg. gives -aright." Cp. for the phrase Proverbs 23:31, R.V. and margin. Budde would read lěchikkî, -for my palate," instead or lědhôdhî, -for my beloved," but there is no support for such a change in any version or MS. The translation of the A.V. is according to the accents, but most recent commentators, who take the dramatic or semi-dramatic view of the whole, assign these words to the bride, supposing that she interrupts the king and turns off the simile to her beloved.

causing the lips ofthose that are asleep to speak Better, as R.V., gliding through the lips of those that are asleep. The A.V. may, following Jerome and Kimchi, have connected the word dôbhçbhwith dibbâh, a calumny or evil rumour, or they may have read dôbhçror medhabbçr. But dôbhçbhhas no connexion with dibbâh, but is rather related to zâbh, and means -to go softly," hence the translation -going softly" or -gliding" over the lips of sleepers, or of those about to sleep. The whole clause would then mean that this wine was such that men drank it till they were rendered slumberous by it. But this is not very satisfactory, and the suggestion that, following the LXX, Aq., Syr., Vulg., we should read -gliding over my lips and teeth," or -over his lips and teeth," might perhaps be adopted.